1 Samuel 23:1-13 ▼

1 THEN they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors.

2 And David inquired of the LORD, saying. Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said to him, Go and smite the Philistines and save Keilah.

3 And David's men said to him, We are afraid here in Judea, how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?

4 Then David inquired of the LORD again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.

5 So David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines and brought away their cattle and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

6 And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimeleck fled to David to Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.

7 And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God has delivered him into my hands; for he has shut himself up by entering a town that has gates and bars.

8 And Saul called all the people together to war to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.

9 land David knew that Saul was plotting mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring the ephod to me.

10 Then David said, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant has heard for certain that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city on my account.

11 Will the men of the city deliver me and the men who are with me into the hand of Saul?

12 And the LORD said, They will deliver you; arise and go out of the city.

13 Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah and went wherever they could go. And it was told Saul that David had fled from Keilah; and he forbore to go forth.